Stupid Question

[Guest]

Restoring a 1982 GS1100E and the parts diagram or manual does not indicate which way the fork springs go in? Does the tighter coils go up or down??

[Rijko]

Down, i think.
Did you try to put it in, IIRC the ID in the windings is different and it fits only one way. I think.

[Brendan W]

Close wound coils up according to my manual.
You will see a lot of people saying that the stiffness doesn't matter which end you compress from and that is true for static loading.
On the road the compression travels up the spring at a finite speed. For certain types of load the top may never know anything happened until it's all over.
The looser the wind the softer the spring. With the loose end down in theory you get a softer rate that hardens up as the compression increases.
That said mine were opposite ways when I took them out. They went back the same way and I can't say I noticed any difference.

[renorealtors]

Good info. Thank you John

[renorealtors]

I figured it was rising rate and it makes sense to have the tight coils on top. Thanks again

[wyly]

There are no stupid questions, no one can be expected to know everything.

[Brendan W]

There are no stupid questions, no one can be expected to know everything.

Slight correction if I may
The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask.

[trevor]

Restoring a 1982 GS1100E and the parts diagram or manual does not indicate which way the fork springs go in? Does the tighter coils go up or down??

You should consider new Sonic fork springs. Great upgrade for $120

I just put them in my 83 gs750ed and a huge difference. I also have them in my Cooley

[Grimly]

Restoring a 1982 GS1100E and the parts diagram or manual does not indicate which way the fork springs go in? Does the tighter coils go up or down??

Opinion and manufacturers are divided on this. My recent set of Wilbers progressives were quite clear about close-wound coils to the top. Other makers say the opposite.

[Tom R]

The tighter wound side is the softer side of the spring.... that said it doesn’t make a difference which way you put them from a compression point of view; however the tighter coils should be up to reduce reciprocating mass.

[cowboyup3371]

You should consider new Sonic fork springs. Great upgrade for $120

I just put them in my 83 gs750ed and a huge difference. I also have them in my Cooley

+1 on this; you'll love the way Sonic springs work for you

[Steve]

... the tighter coils should be up to reduce reciprocating mass.

While "reciprocating mass" might also be technically correct, I have used the term "unsprung weight".

.

[Tom R]

While "reciprocating mass" might also be technically correct, I have used the term "unsprung weight".

.

Haha - I knew it sounded odd when I wrote it.... just thought it could be confusing to say springs were unsprung.

[bwringer]

Hadn't thought about unsprung weight, but that's a good point.

Tighter coils up also slightly reduces the amount that dropping the spring in affects oil level, since there are fewer coils immersed in oil.


I strongly doubt these factors make the slightest humanly perceptible difference. But if there's a right way and a wrong way, might as well do it the right way. And having a "rule" to follow ensures you'll at least be consistent.

[Lou]

I was expected some stupid pictures and questions in this forum